Honeymoon Island State Park
Dunedin, FL
Honeymoon Island State Park is four miles of white sand just north of Dunedin, split across several parking areas, and it's also the ferry dock for Caladesi Island next door. The north end feels like classic calm Gulf beach, while the south tip holds one of the busiest dog beaches on this part of the coast, a full half mile walk in on its own.
Four miles of beach, a real dog beach, and the Caladesi ferry all in one park make it a local go-to, though the size means picking the right parking area matters more here than at most beaches.
How we score beachesPick your parking area based on what you're after, the main beach lots fill first on weekends while the dog beach lot at the south end tends to hold out a little longer. There's a small café near the main beach if you didn't pack lunch, unusual for a state park.
The entrance fee is 8 dollars per vehicle, 4 dollars for a single occupant, covering four separate parking areas. No extra hourly fee once you're through the gate.
The main beach areas are a short, flat walk from their lots. The Pet Beach is the exception, closer to a half mile walk depending which entrance you use.
Leashed dogs are welcome at the dedicated Pet Beach on the island's south end, but they're not allowed on the three main beach areas further north.
Gulf water off Dunedin stays warm from late spring through fall, with the calmest conditions in the shoulder months before summer's crowds and hurricane season arrive together in June. Winter brings snowbirds but noticeably cooler water.
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